If your cover doesn’t have straps, I suggest you buy some or secure it with heavy boards or bricks around the edges.

Why you need to winterize your hot tub

You may think it won’t be a big deal to leave your hot tub unattended for a few months.

I mean, it’s a relatively small amount of water, and since it’s cold, it shouldn’t breed bacteria, right?

WRONG!

Even in colder temps, dangerous bacteria such as legionella can grow because it tends to breed in the plumbing where it is dark and when there is no water flow.

So unless you plan to leave your pump running all winter, you NEED to get those pipes drained.

The other reason to winterize your hot tub is to avoid the risk of freeze damage.

When water freezes, it expands and it can cause some serious damage to your plumbing like cracked pipes and broken seals.

Bottom line

You can, of course, choose to keep your hot tub going in the winter.

As long as your pump is occasionally running and you're maintaining the chemical levels, there's no reason not to enjoy it all year long.

Just make sure you take the proper measures to protect it and winterize it if it will be sitting dormant for more than a week or if you anticipate a big freeze.

But whether you choose to use it or not, if you live in extremely cold climates, it’s a good idea to invest in a quality insulated hot tub cover and to hire a professional to properly insulate your pipes.